Growhampton is a sustainability initiative with a big focus on food growing and healthy eating. A big part of this is our social enterprise - The Hive Cafe. This is the end point of our edible campus and its field to fork mission.

New stretch target

We will use any further funding to develop new Growhampton initiatives that engage our students, staff and local community to eat healthier and live more sustainability. This will ensure that we can bring sustainable food to more people of London.

Growhampton needs you!! Support us in our mission to bring sustainable food to the people of Roehampton

A little bit about us….

Eighteen months ago we arrived at the University of Roehampton. We dug out the lawns, put up a polytunnel and planted veg ……lots of veg. In the blink of an eye, a shipping container arrived on campus, scaffold boards had been recycled into tables and triple certified (organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance) artisan coffee was being served from The Hive Café is open to everyone on campus and the general public. We hooked up with local businesses, supporting them and keeping our food miles low to bring delicious, healthy and environmentally friendly food to students, staff and the local community. Before we knew it The Hive had been named the winner of the Soil Association 2015 Organic Eating Out Award and we had scooped up a very prestigious Highly Commended Green Gown Award. What’s more, our superstar customers who have purchased Feel Good Bakery sandwiches have provided 10,000 meals for children in developing countries.

Our amazing student volunteers tend to the growing spaces and pick & pack the organically grown veggies to bring them down to the weekly farmer’s market, where you can also pick up home-made bread and perhaps a bargain from the pop-up thrift shop. The latest venture is our very own flock of backyard hens so that we can add fresh free range eggs to our market stalls.

What our customers say...

So why do we need your support…..

Growhampton was established with funding from the NUS Students’ Green Fund, which comes to an end at the end of August. This funding enabled us amongst all of our other good work, to establish the extra-ordinary Hive Café which is the social enterprise part of our Growhampton operation. It’s special because we care about what we serve and who we serve it to. Students, staff and the local community have become our customers and our friends. In an independent survey we have been voted as the number one food provider on campus – thanks guys.

However, The Hive, although beautifully formed, is quite small and currently there isn’t enough seating space for everyone when it’s rainy or a bit chilly outside (which is most of the time unfortunately). As a response to customer demand we want to be bigger, so that more of you can spend more quality time with us. Bigger means adding an additional shipping container to our unique structure to triple the seating space for our customers.

What will we do with the money raised from your support…

20k will pay for the additional shipping container which will provide three times as much seating and an even more wonderful environment. This funding and the outcome of providing more seating will go along way to ensuring the project can continue to fund itself beyond the end of its external funding.

The money from your support will be spent on the following:

£2000 - Laying the foundation work

£7500 - New Container

£3000 - Cutting and welding the container

£5000 - Internal Decorating

£1500 - Lights and Power and Kitchen Equipment

What impact will your funding have…

An additional container will create much more usable and flexible seating space for you to do what you want to do: Chill out, meetings, studying and socialising. Groups will be able to reserve tables and hire the space out for private events. The new oven means we can expand our menu, creating healthy delicious lunches using even more ingredients grown by us.

As a social enterprise, the additional income from a greater number of customer’s gives our project a secure future. We will be able to continue to run our growing sites, provide volunteering opportunities for our students, support businesses and organisations in the community and continue our much loved farmer’s market.

What's next…

Please be part of the solution to bring healthy and sustainable food to the masses across Roehampton. Support, pledge and get involved in our project and its funding to enable The Hive to be a hub for all within the local area.

If you’re not able to contribute but like what we’re doing, get the word out! Shout about us on twitter (@the_hive_cafe and @growhampton) and Facebook (Growhampton), whatsapp it to your friends, email it to your colleagues and talk about it your family. And feel free to get in touch, or come say hello, grab a coffee give us a high five!

THANK YOU - From all at The Hive, Growhampton and our Chickens!

Rewards

Get £5 reward

One drink of your choice coming right at you! And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of the new container.. (this will be available at the end of our crowdfunding bid)

31 backers so far

Get £10 reward

Souper Sandwich - A wonderful Growhampton drink of your choice and a sandwich or soup.... And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of the new container. (this will be available at the end of our crowdfunding bid)

70 backers so far

Get £17 reward

COOK WITH GROWHAMPTON - Limited edition recipe card and Growhampton mug. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of the new container. (this will be available at the end of our crowdfunding bid)

25 backers so far

Get £25 reward

You get a beautiful Growhampton limited edition T shirt.... Of course this will be nothing short of brilliant quality and ethically sourced cotton. Specify male or female and the size you want (S, M, L). And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

65 backers so far

Get £40 reward

Eggcellent tour - Come and meet our newest addition - the growhampton Chooks! Our Chickens can't wait to meet you and provide you a set of half a dozen Growhampton eggs. Learn about how we look after them and every visit includes a signed picture of you with one of our Chickens. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

6 backers so far

Get £50 reward

You better BEElieve it - Come and meet our bees who live on our rooftops and grab yourself a some of the finest London honey produced. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of the container.

20 backers so far

Get £100 reward

Become a Barista - Learn how to brew and make coffee the Growhampton way. Come in for a designated 3 hour lesson on coffee. A money-can't-buy opportunity with our Award Winning team of experts. They will teach you how to be a master of the beans. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

8 backers so far

Get £110 reward

Learn the basics of bread making - four hour bread making course delivered by the one and only bread angel Juli Farkas, from the Growhampton farmers market. Includes a delicious lunch. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

2 backers so far

Get £160 reward

Learn to make sourdough like the pro's - six hour sourdough masterclass with the one and only bread angel Juli Farkas from the Growhampton farmers market. This includes a wonderful lunch. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

1 backer so far

Get £175 reward

Grow your own - Learn from our in house grower and Veg expert with a 6 hour day training on how to grow your own and be successful at cultivating your own. Lunch is included as is a drinks reception at our very own Hive cafe after a great day out. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

1 backer so far

Get £300 reward

Green Card Member - Join a privileged bunch with a lifetime discount card for 20% off all drinks at The Hive. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer and on the side of our new container.

2 backers so far

Get £500 reward

Come dine with us - Host your very own private dinner party for up to 10 people. Includes three course dinner, drinks and coffee. Including dinner entertainment from our very own 'Live At The Hive' artists.And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer.

3 backers so far

Get £1,600 reward

Tastetastic - Come and enjoy a 5 course Growhampton tasting menu for you and 25 of your friends for one of the first private hires with the new extension. Bubbles on arrival and a night to remember with live entertainment and memories of a lifetime. And as a special thank you from us, your name will appear on our Growhampton Hall of Fame throughout the summer.

0 backers so far

Get £5,000 reward

You can pretty much have the kitchen sink - We will give you a delightful hamper of Growhampton produce, a Tastetastic meal for you and 25 of your friends and you GET TO UNVEIL AND CUT THE RIBBON ON THE OPENING OF THE NEW AND IMPROVED HIVE!

1 backer so far

Get £200 reward

Thank you very much. Your name will go on our Wall of Fame and we will love you forever.